Food heating device

ABSTRACT

A microwave oven divided into a plurality of zones. Each zone is operative to generate a different quantity of heat energy. Food trays are provided. The trays are divided into a plurality of compartments. Each compartment is adapted to be aligned with one of the oven zones so that food disposed in that tray compartment is heated to a desired temperature.

United States Patent Cooper 51 May-23,1972

[54] FOOD HEATING DEVICE [72] Inventor: Willard Cooper, 379 BurwoodAve., Camden, NJ. 08105 [22] Filed: Feb. 17, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 116,094

521 U.S.Cl. ..2l9/10.55,99/DIG. 14 511 m0. ..H05b9/06 5s FieldofSearch..2l9/lO.55;126/19,273;

99/361, 362, 367, DIG. 14

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,612,596 9/1952 Gross..2l9/i0.55

3,271,169 9/1966 Bakeretal ..2l9/l0.55X 3,271,552 9/1966 Krajewski..219/l0.55

Primary Examiner-J. V. Truhe Assistant Examiner-Hugh D. J aegerAttorneySeidel, Gonda & Goldhammer ABSTRACT A microwave oven dividedinto a plurality of zones. Each zone is operative to generate adifierent quantity of heat energy. Food trays are provided. The traysare divided into a plurality of compartments. Each compartment isadapted to be aligned with one of the oven zones so that food disposedin that tray compartment is heated to a desired temperature.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 23 1972 SHEET 1 [BF 2 [NI/EN TORWILLARD COOPER {Maw-um ATTORNEYS PATENTEDW 2 3 :972

MU 2 UF 2 ATTORNEYS FOOD HEATING DEVICE This invention relates to adevice for heating foods and more particularly to a device for the rapidheating of foods in a restaurant environment.

Rapid food heating is particularly desirable in restaurants, cafeteriasand fast food establishments. Utilization of means for quick heating offood will result in less waiting by patrons, and greater turnover by theestablishment with the result of increased profits.

In the past food establishments of the type noted above have tried toprecook their foods to a limited extent. Final cooking was delayed untilthe patron placed an order. In many of the popular low cost fast foodestablishments, the foods are prepared and often precooked. Then, theymust be kept warm until an order is placed. If the food is not purchasedwithin a relatively short period of time then the food must bediscarded.

Additionally this latter technique has the disadvantage of being limitedonly to the heating or cooking of relatively simple items such ashamburgers, hot dogs, fried chicken or the like. Thus, it has not beenpossible to prepare a full meal for fast food service. Such a meal mightinclude a meat or fish and a number of vegetables or the like. Aprinciple problem with utilizing such an arrangement is that the variousitems must be cooked or heated for different periods of time. Devicesknown heretofore have been entirely unsatisfactory for the solving ofthis problem since, it was not possible to heat the food to be served ina short enough period of time to make it possible to heat it on orderand it was not possible to isolate the various foods so that each wouldbe heated to its optimum temperature. Accordingly, it is an object ofthis invention to provide a novel and unobvious food heater.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel and unobviousfood heater and tray wherein the heater and the tray are complimentarywith eachother.

It is another object of this invention to provide a food heater having aplurality of zones, where each of the zones is operative to generatedifferent quantity of heat.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a food heatingdevice which can be conveniently used in restaurants and the like.

Generally, the invention relates to a food heating device. The devicecomprises an oven. The oven has a partition to divide it into at leasttwo zones. Means for generating different quantities of heat in each ofthe zones are provided. A food tray is provided. The tray is adapted tobe received in the oven. The tray is divided into a plurality ofcompartments, each of the compartments is adapted to be aligned with oneof the zones so that the food in each compartment is heated to adifferent temperature.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from adetailed description thereof which follows wherein a presently preferredform of the invention is disclosed.

FIG. I is a plain view of an apparatus employing the inven tron.

' FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the ovens forming a portion ofthe invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Now referring to the drawing wherein a detailed description of onepresently preferred form of the invention is shown, FIG. 1 shows an ovendevice 10.

The device includes a right bank 12 and a left, bank 14. Both the leftand right banks are mirror images of eachother. Accordingly, theremainder of the description of the banks will be confined to bank 12;it being understood that bank 14 is virtually identical thereto. i

As will be described in substantial detail herein, each of the banks 12,14 supports a plurality of ovens l6which are utilized to heat food whichhas been precooked and which is stored in its frozen state in trays 18on a rack 20. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 the rack 20 provides a pluralityof shelves and partitions so that a substantial number of food trays 18can be stored thereon. It is contemplated that the trays may be arrangedon the rack 30 so that those trays carrying identical foods are storedin the same area. It is apparent that trays holding a wide variety ofprecooked frozen foods may be carried on the rack. Preferably, theentire menu of the store or restaurant should be in precooked frozenform so that only a minimal amount of food handling is necessary.

Bank 12 as shown in FIG. 2 may be supported on a suitable support member22. The bank comprises a plurality of ovens 16 shown in side by sideparallel relation to eachother. The ovens are carried above the topsurface of support 22. A first conveyor belt 26, wide enough to underlieall of the ovens disposed on the bank is entrained over suitable drivemembers 28 so that its upper surface can be driven in the directionindicated by the arrow.

It is contemplated that trays of frozen food 18, will be moved from theovens 16 by the conveyor 26.

In end to end relation with the first conveyor belt 26 is a secondnarrower conveyor belt 30. This conveyor belt is also entrained overdrive means 32 and is driven so that it moves to food trays in the samedirection as first conveyor belt 26. Thus, food trays will betransferred from the one conveyor belt to the other. If desired,conveyor belt 30 may run faster or slower than conveyor belt 26.

At the end of conveyor belt 30 a rotating serving table 40 is provided.The table may be driven by a suitable electric motor 42 which isconnected by means of a gear box 44 to a rotating output shaft 46. Thus,the food trays carried by conveyor 22 are fed onto the rotating servingtable 28 where they may be picked up by restaurant personnel or patrons.

The first conveyor 26 comprises an outside relatively high wall 50having an angled portion 52 merging into a second wall portion 54adjacent the second conveyor. Thus,-food trays emanating from the oven19 closest to wall 50 will strike angled portion 54 and thus be driventoward the conveyor 30.

To assure that adjacent trays do not collide while coming out of theiradjacent ovens, suitable partitions 56 and 58 are provided.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3 wherein one of the ovens on bank 14 isillustrated in detail. The oven is shown with its support structureremoved in order to simplify the description. As seen in FIG. 3 the ovenincludes a top wall 60 and side walls 62 and 64. The conveyor 26functions as a bottom wall. Suitable insulating material 66 is providedfor isolating the oven from the exterior.

A plurality of partitions 68 which extend partially into the ovenexterior are supported in downwardly depending relation from the top ofthe oven so that it is divided into a plurality of separate zones 70, 72and 74 in side-by-side relation to each other. Since the partitions onlyextend partially into the interior they define a zone common to zones70, 72 and 74. In the preferred form of the invention, each of the zoneswould be provided with a suitable heat generating means. Preferably,such heat generating means takes the form of microwave generatingmagnatrons. Such devices are well known for generating microwave energyfor the purposes of heating foods.

As is well known, the microwave energy does not provide any heating orcooking function until it penetrates the food. Thus, by regulating theamount of time during which the magnatrons in each of the compartmentsin the oven are energized, it is possible to heat different types offoods simultaneously.

Thus, it is preferred that the magnatrons be controlled by suitablepresettable timers 76 which may be energized in a manner to be explainedbelow.

Each oven may have a front door 80 which may be manually raised andlowered to permit the placement of food trays therein. Additionally, arear door (not shown) may also be provided.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the food tray 17 comprises a plurality ofcompartments 84, 86 and 88 for receiving food. It should be observedthat the compartments 84, 86 and 88 are in generally spaced parallelrelation to each other and are connected by webs 90 and 92. Each of thewebs in turn defines an upwardly facing notch 94 and 96.

When the tray containing the food is inserted in the common zone in theoven the notches 92 and 96 cooperate with partitions 68 so that each ofthe zones 70, 72 and 74 within the ovens 16 is isolated from itsadjacent zone. Thus, the timers 28 may be preset so that the food intray compartment 84 is subjected to microwave radiation for one intervalof time and the food in compartments 80 and 82 is subjected to microwaveradiation for different intervals of time. Thus, the foods in thevarious compartments of the tray 17 may all be heated to the correcttemperature without concern for burning or the like.

Since microwave energy is used, very rapid heating of the foods isachieved. By way of example, a sausage may be heated in about 8 seconds.A chicken may be barbecued in about 50 seconds, a baked potato may becooked in about 45 seconds.

A suitable control means may be provided for the conveyors and the oven.Thus, appropriate circuitry may be utilized to connect conveyor belt 26and the timers 76. Accordingly, when a food tray is placed in an oven16, the timers are energized to heat the food. Deenergization of thetimers will cause the conveyor belt to remove the tray from the oven.

Preferably, the food trays 17 are comprised of a transparent plasticmaterial. Additionally, they should also be covered with a transparentplastic material. Thus, they may be moved directly from the storage rack16 directly into the ovens 19. Since they are covered with transparentmaterial, it is not necessary to remove any part of the covering orrearrange any of the contents in order to allow for the fact thatdifferent types of foods require different quantities of heat.

Accordingly, although the invention has been described with reference toone particular embodiment thereof it is apparent that many other formsand embodiments would be obvious to those skilled in the art in view ofthe foregoing description. Thus, the scope of the invention should notbe limited by the foregoing description but rather only by the scope ofthe claims appended hereto.

lclaim:

l. A food heating device comprising an oven, said oven having wall meansdefining an interior, at least one partition supported by said wallmeans and extending partially into said interior to divide said interiorinto at least three zones, the first two of said zones being inside-by-side relation with respect to each other, said third zone beingcommon to said first two zones, heat generating means disposed in eachof said first two zones, each of said heat generating means beingoperable to generate a different heating temperature, and a food tray tobe placed in said third zone, said food tray being divided into aplurality of compartments, some of said compartments corresponding toone of said first two zones, the remainder of said compartmentscorresponding to the other of said first two zones so that food in eachof said compartments is heated to a different temperature.

2. A food heating device as defined in claim 1 comprising conveyor meansfor conveying said tray into and out of said oven, drive means, saiddrive means being operable when energized to drive said conveyor, andcontrol means, said control means being operative to deenergize saidconveyor means when said tray is in said oven, and means for selectivelyenergizing said heat generating means, said selective energizing meanscooperating with said control means so that said conveyor means isdeenergized when said tray is in said oven and said heat generatingmeans is energized, and said control means is energized when said heatgenerating means is deenergized. r

3. A food heating device as defined in claim 2 wherein said oven has atop wall, said partition extending partially into said interior fromsaid top wall, said compartments being disposed on said tray in side byside relation, web means disposed between said compartments, said webmeans defining a notch for receiving said partition when said tray is insaid oven to isolate adjacent compartments.

4. A food heating device as defined in claim 2 wherein said heatgenerating means comprises microwave generators and said control meansincludes selectively energizable timers for said microwave generators,and said tray is transparent.

5. A food heating device as defined in claim 1 including conveyor meansdisposed below said oven, said conveyor means defining said oven floor,said oven having a top wall, said partition extending partially intosaid interior from said top wall, said compartments being disposedlongitudinally along said tray in side by side parallel relation, saidtray in cluding longitudinally disposed web means disposed tointermediate said compartments, said web means defining a longitudinallydisposed notch for receiving said partition when said tray is in saidoven to substantially isolate adjacent compartments.

6. A food generating device as defined in claim 5 wherein said heatgenerating means comprises microwave generators, and said control meansincludes selectively energizable timers for said microwave generatorsand said tray is transparent.

7. A food heating device as defined in claim 1 wherein said oven has atop wall and a bottom wall, said partition extending partially into saidinterior from said top wall, said compartments being disposed on saidtray in side-by-side relation, web means disposed between saidcompartments, said web means defining a notch for receiving saidpartition when said tray is in said oven to isolate adjacentcompartments.

8. A food heating device as defined in claim 1 wherein said heatgenerating means comprises microwave generators, and said tray istransparent.

1. A food heating device comprising an oven, said oven having wall meansdefining an interior, at least one partition supported by said wallmeans and extending partially into said interior to divide said interiorinto at least three zones, the first two of said zones being inside-by-side relation with respect to each other, said third zone beingcommon to said first two zones, heat generating means disposed in eachof said first two zones, each of said heat generating means beingoperable to generate a different heating temperature, and a food tray tobe placed in said third zone, said food tray being divided into aplurality of compartments, some of said compartments corresponding toone of said first two zones, the remainder of saId compartmentscorresponding to the other of said first two zones so that food in eachof said compartments is heated to a different temperature.
 2. A foodheating device as defined in claim 1 comprising conveyor means forconveying said tray into and out of said oven, drive means, said drivemeans being operable when energized to drive said conveyor, and controlmeans, said control means being operative to deenergize said conveyormeans when said tray is in said oven, and means for selectivelyenergizing said heat generating means, said selective energizing meanscooperating with said control means so that said conveyor means isdeenergized when said tray is in said oven and said heat generatingmeans is energized, and said control means is energized when said heatgenerating means is deenergized.
 3. A food heating device as defined inclaim 2 wherein said oven has a top wall, said partition extendingpartially into said interior from said top wall, said compartments beingdisposed on said tray in side by side relation, web means disposedbetween said compartments, said web means defining a notch for receivingsaid partition when said tray is in said oven to isolate adjacentcompartments.
 4. A food heating device as defined in claim 2 whereinsaid heat generating means comprises microwave generators and saidcontrol means includes selectively energizable timers for said microwavegenerators, and said tray is transparent.
 5. A food heating device asdefined in claim 1 including conveyor means disposed below said oven,said conveyor means defining said oven floor, said oven having a topwall, said partition extending partially into said interior from saidtop wall, said compartments being disposed longitudinally along saidtray in side by side parallel relation, said tray includinglongitudinally disposed web means disposed to intermediate saidcompartments, said web means defining a longitudinally disposed notchfor receiving said partition when said tray is in said oven tosubstantially isolate adjacent compartments.
 6. A food generating deviceas defined in claim 5 wherein said heat generating means comprisesmicrowave generators, and said control means includes selectivelyenergizable timers for said microwave generators and said tray istransparent.
 7. A food heating device as defined in claim 1 wherein saidoven has a top wall and a bottom wall, said partition extendingpartially into said interior from said top wall, said compartments beingdisposed on said tray in side-by-side relation, web means disposedbetween said compartments, said web means defining a notch for receivingsaid partition when said tray is in said oven to isolate adjacentcompartments.
 8. A food heating device as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid heat generating means comprises microwave generators, and said trayis transparent.